Eur. Phys. J. D 41, 505-511 (2007)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2006-00270-4

Electronic excitations during grazing scattering of hydrogen atoms on KI(001) and LiF(001) surfaces

¹ Institut für Physik der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 6, 12489 Berlin-Adlershof, Germany
² Institut für Allgemeine Physik der Technischen Universität Wien, Wiedner Hauptstr. 8 - 10, 1040 Wien, Austria

Corresponding author: ^a winter@physik.hu-berlin.de

Received: 23 June 2006
Revised: 3 November 2006
Published online: 13 December 2006

Abstract

The energy loss of hydrogen atoms with energies of 400 eV and 1 keV is studied in coincidence with the number of emitted electrons during grazing scattering from atomically clean and flat KI(001) and LiF(001) surfaces. The energy loss spectra for specific numbers of emitted electrons are analyzed in terms of a binary interaction model based on the formation of transient negative ions via local capture of valence band electrons from anion sites. Based on computer simulations we derive for this interaction scenario probabilities for the production of surface excitons, for electron loss to the conduction band of KI, for emission of electrons, and for formation of negative hydrogen ions. The pronounced differences of data obtained for the two surfaces are attributed to the different electronic structures of KI and LiF.